International students share their impressions of living in Moscow and studying at HSE

My name is Isidora Cebzanov and I am from Belgrade, Serbia. I’m currently in my second year of a master’s in “Clinical Personology”, Faculty of Social Sciences at HSE University. When applying to HSE, I was extremely motivated to see and experience a unique and exciting master’s programme, in one of the best universities in Russia. My decision to move to Moscow had a huge impact on me, on my personal and daily life of course, but for me it wasn’t that scary at all - the amount of help and encouragement I received from the students and professors at the beginning was incredible and soon enough, HSE University became my second home.

I feel grateful for the amount of support and knowledge I got from my professors and the environment in which I was able to learn and develop. Sometimes I consider it as pure luck - meeting my colleagues and getting the opportunity to share this wonderful experience with them. As graduation day approaches, our professional growth and the feeling of accomplishment are overwhelming sometimes - in a positive way, thrilling and filled with amazement. All of my colleagues in HSE like to repeat this sentence: “We study not for school, but for life.” And well I am also very aware that I’ve gained enough practical experience to start working now.

Throughout my master’s programme I had the opportunity to test my skills and practice in a safe and secure environment with the guidance of true professionals.

In the nearest future I am planning to start working as a psychologist, gracefully and efficiently, always keeping in mind what an existing journey it was to come this far and get the opportunity to be a part of such a big university family.

I am Aleksandra Bogdanovska from Macedonia, I study at HSE University, first year in the master's programme "Psychology of counselling. Personology". During my undergraduate studies, I slowly but surely fell in love with the science of personality - personology. In personology, the person is considered, described and explained not only from a psychological point of view, but also from a cultural, anthropological, philosophical, sociological, biological, medical, and even artistic. I believe that this approach to defining the inner, mental world gives a comprehensive picture of what a person is and how it manages our life. Personology is a relatively young direction in psychology (as it is said “with ancient past and short history”), and thanks to the highly qualified and eminent professors who head this department at HSE University, in my fourth year of undergraduate studies, I had an unbridled desire to fly to Russia and learn about personality directly from the people who are most meritorious for the development of this science. I found out about how developed personology is in Russia from my immensely respected professor from Macedonia, who instilled in me the love for the study of personality.

When it comes to student life at HSE University, I can surely say that it is really dynamic. I spend almost the whole days at the university, but at the end I go home filled with a sense of productivity and satisfaction. In the morning I work out in the university gyms, I eat in the student canteen, then during the day I attend lessons and seminars (at which I have the honor of listening together with highly competent, versatile and ambitious fellow students) and in the afternoon I meet my colleagues from the Macedonian club HSE, which I founded in the last academic year, when I was at the preparatory faculty for studying the Russian language. Sometimes, when there are some interesting student events, competitions or additional lectures, I also participate in them and thus spread acquaintances within our university. I also often visit our sophisticated library on Pokrovsky Boulevard or our comfortable library on Mesnitskaya Street, where the working atmosphere has a motivating effect on my learning.

I especially like the lectures because they are useful, dynamic, interactive and of high quality. The professors try to recognize and realize the potential of each student individually. Colleagues are hard-working, cooperative and inspiring, as well as full of knowledge and creativity and with lots of ideas for new projects. It is really a great honor to be a part of such a community because inspired by my surrounding, I myself come up with various new ideas for projects and research.

So far, unfortunately, I have not started with internship. I would like some time to pass so that I feel completely free in speaking Russian (for now I just understand everything and can read and write fluently, but the speaking part is a little bit challenging). I would like to share my gratitude for the patience that both students and professors show towards me during my attempts to express myself in Russian. I see myself as a beginner-consultant who can help international students (consulting in English), students from the Balkans (consulting in Serbo-Croatian and Macedonian), and in the near future also students who speak Russian fluently. I would also like to have the opportunity to see how psychologists in educational institutions apply their knowledge, so that I can, in the future introduce Macedonian psychologists to techniques, approaches and methods used here.

For other international students, I would recommend:

1. Always give your best, especially if you are a scholarship recipient (someone invested in you – justify that investment). The work here does not go unnoticed.
2. Meet other students – it will enrich your worldview and open many new perspectives.
3. Don't be ashamed to speak in a language you are not yet fluent in. Language improves precisely in interaction with other people.
4. Try to make a synthesis between where you come from and where you came – conduct research that will show cultural similarities and differences, exchange positive experiences and recommendations from both countries.
5. Find a way to promote your culture and tradition. The point is to integrate, not to assimilate yourself in the new environment.
6. Find out about the opportunities offered by HSE University, there are many of them. They can seriously help you in the development of your career, more broadly, of your personality.
7. Read books from university libraries, they are an invaluable treasure.
8. Don't forget that studies are only a part of your life – experience Moscow and its enormous attractions.
9. Don't compare yourself with other students, everyone has their own path in life. Take a cooperative, rather than competitive, attitude toward colleagues and watch things move in a positive upward direction.
10. Try to participate in as many events, lessons, master classes and organizations as possible. It will help you expand acquaintances, practice foreign languages, open up future opportunities and improve yourself as a person.
11. Always have a little blank notebook by your side – when an idea is born, immediately write it down. You will thank me in the future.
12. Try to live here and now – you are in Moscow once, you have this opportunity once. Use it to the maximum and enjoy your journey.

I'm Ani Sahakyan from Armenia. I’m currently in my second year of a master’s in Data Science. About HSE, as one of the best universities in Russia, I knew from school years. During my 4th year of bachelor I had an opportunity to take an online course from HSE University, thanks of universities cooperation. Impressed with the quality of education, I decided to pursue my master's here.

What I love about HSE is the emphasis on project-based learning rather than traditional oral exams. Also there is a great opportunity to choose subjects from other programmes too, so I chose subject about business management, which is not from my profession, but very interesting and useful.

I believe that if a person takes from university only knowledge, means he/she not using opportunities effectively. Besides knowledge HSE University also gives us big international network and friends from different countries and nations. As an active student of HSE I'm participating in university life. Now I’m a member of International Department’s volunteering center, also volunteering in different events time by time, or just participating and having a good time with my friends. Last event was Unity Festival, during which I helped Armenian club in organizing and representing Armenia.

Now I’m in process of choosing thesis topic in the scope of medical data analysis field. My scientific supervisor is Oleg Pianykh, PhD of Louisiana State University, who is also lecturer in our programme. My thesis topic is in discussion process now, but most probably it will be related to survival analysis in oncology therapeutic area.

University is giving two opportunities after graduation, I’ll try to use them. After graduation I’m planning to apply for Ph.D. programmes in biostatistics, and also work in industry with data analytics, which is very interesting for me. I look forward to staying connected with HSE University through the HSE Alumni community.

1. Introduce yourself (full name, direction, course of study, faculty and programme, where are you from)?

My name is Pham Thu Trang and I’m from Vietnam. I’m currently a fourth year student at Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. My major is World Economy.

2. Why did you decide to enroll in HSE / what influenced the choice of university?

HSE was my top priority when I was applying for the Russian state-funded scholarship. At first I mainly chose HSE because I was amazed at its high position in international rankings of universities. Later on I was more inspired by my friends who told me that studying HSE is exceptionally serious and difficult, which was exactly what I was looking for in a university.

3. Do you participate in the student life of the university, why is it important for you?

I would say that I rarely spare my time to participate in extracurricular activities since studying has already taken up most of my time, so as a matter of fact it is not very important to me. However, recently I started to join more events to meet international students and realized it’s a very good break from studying as it opens up your world very much.

4. What are your impressions of studying? What do you like about her?

Studying is harsh. I don’t think any Russian student or teacher can understand what international students go through when they have to study in Russian. It’s like a struggle every day, but in the end the most important thing is your persistence. As I mentioned earlier, studying in HSE is serious, and that’s what I like. At HSE, the standards applied to international students are the same as those applied to Russian students, who are already among the top students in Russia based on their ЕГЭ results.

5. What is your minor? Why did you choose him?

I chose Psychology as my minor because I wanted to study something that is not related to my major, which is economics, but is also interesting and relevant.

6. Where do you practice? Do you participate in internships? In which companies?

No I don’t have any internship at the moment. I only used to work for my professor at HSE as a translator of his mathematic materials from Russian/English to Vietnamese.

7. What opportunities does HSE offer to international students?

In simple words, HSE offers student to become better if they are willing deal with the upcoming challenges. HSE brings about not only a high-quality academic environment but also great living conditions for international students.

8. Instructions for students

The most relevant advice I can say to new students is that you need to be prepared to study the Russian language properly. But at the same time you can also spare some time to join events and meet with other international students and have a break from studying.

What strengths of HSE University determined your decision to enroll here?

It’s reputation. Whenever I told my Russian colleagues I have options to HSE, x, y, and z, their reaction always was "HSE! Woow!". This ensured me that this is a special university. I then searched about Russian university rankings and found out that HSE occupied the first place according to Forbes, this made it a no-brainer for me to choose HSE.

Why active student’s life can be interested?

Foreign students always feel isolated, I always believed this was the only way to get out of the isolation and blend within the Russian community. Another huge benefit is to improve soft skills, build a network with other people, and be ready for a future professional environment.

What are your plans after graduation?

Work as a software engineer in a good company. As a foreign student, it's tough to say a plan with a clear roadmap because we have a lot of variables, there's our home countries, and there's Russia, but what I can expect is a good future thanks to the various options HSE opens for us.

Why are you grateful to HSE University?

The nice Gym we have in dorm NO.7, I always wanted to do sports but was never able to sustain for long. Having a Gym in the dorm is not enough, but having a Gym in the dorm which includes the best and most important machines and tools helped me go almost every day and having good health.

My name is Abdul Jalilu and I am a second-year master’s student from Ghana. I enrolled in HSE in 2020/2021 Academic Year for a preparatory program and later fully enrolled into the master’s program Strategic Corporate Finance. I got to know about HSE University through my brother who happened to enroll here some time ago. For what I have experienced studying in HSE, I think the university is one of the best in Russia because I have gained a lot of knowledge, skills, connections, and experience from the university; the university has world renowned professors who are capable of making students achieve their academic dreams. Studying in this university also gave me an opportunity to work with people from other faculties; I had the opportunity to work with some prominent people like the Head of HSE International Students Office, Oxana Budjko. I also worked with Investing Director Ella khromova at Prima Capital, Moscow. HSE dormitory administrators like Maria has been so helpful to me in my dormitory. My main challenge as a student in this university is how difficult some courses are; “microeconomics and advanced econometrics” were very difficult for me and even other students; I think the reason is because some of us did not do these courses during our bachelor’s studies. I think the general perception of Ghanaians about Russia is good. Russians are united in whatever that they do, however from my experience, I think some of them are not so open to talk to foreigners.

I have had a thing for Russia since I first learnt about it in my geography class. As time goes on, I keep hearing and reading a lot of stuff about the Russian Federation and I hope one day I'll visit to see it myself. After my bachelor's degree (BSc Information Technology), I started developing feelings for international relations as a field. I was tuned into wanting to learn more about how the world works in terms of relationships, politics, and the global economy. I made this decision in 2022 when my friend Eugenia, who is an alumna of HSE, sent me the admission link to apply. I'm from Accra Ghana, West Africa. Accra is the capital of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa.

Life in Moscow has been really forthcoming and I have had the pleasure of visiting some cool places in Moscow such as the Red Square, St. Basil's Church, the Moscow River, and a couple of parks as well, but my favorite so far is Nikolskaya Street. Was it easy for me to enter and change countries? Well, for me, it was pretty much okay to settle in, as I had searched for enough info about the life in Moscow and I came prepared. The only difference is the taste of the food for me, but I'm used to it now. The transportation system is also another big change for me. In my home country we are used to using private commercial cars, public buses, tricycles, etc., but here in Moscow everyone uses the metro, which is absolutely well developed, designed, and efficiently functional... And, yes, there is cold weather. Even though I came prepared, the cold was way more than expected If you ask me about my university, HSE, and what I love about this beautiful citadel of learning, I really love how lectures are structured, the friendly relationship and atmosphere between lecturers and students, and also the conducive environment for learning. My piece of advice for anyone coming to HSE is to be ready to learn and sit up. Don’t worry, you will get everything you need to succeed. He is an all-rounder.

I decided to study in Russia primarily because of its rich culture, which I was drawn to since childhood. I have read many famous Russian poems and prose works including 'Crime and Punishment' and 'War and Peace' and watched a lot of plays performed by famous actors. I also really enjoy painting. I lived in the south China and never saw snow. The first time I saw snow was in Moscow, and the scene fascinated me. First year at HSE was very difficult. My profession is very complicated, and I was only in my second year of studying Russian, so it was more difficult for me than for the others. At the beginning I didn't always understand the topic and assignments, so while others were resting, I studied on my own, learning both language and mathematics at the same time. I tried very hard to prepare for the exams, I worked harder than others, and in the end I surpassed myself and began to understand everything. My favourite place in HSE is in building D, room 725,726. I often study there alone with myself. These rooms are on top of the building and you can see Pokrovka in all its glory through the window. I also like the glass lift on the first floor, and the stairs at the S building, they look like a modern Hogwarts.

My name is Arfa Amjad and I am from Pakistan doing Master’s Program Critical Media Studies. I enrolled in HSE in 2021. I came to know about HSE university from a friend who was studying in Russia. He told me about HSE and I searched the relevant information on the website. HSE have English programs in my related field, I applied to this university and got full tuition scholarship with stipend. The application process was easy; everything is explained in English on the university’s website. I followed the steps mentioned in my online application portal and I efficiently continued to the next step after getting my previous step verified by the university. I didn't have to wait for a long time to get the verification. The only minor effort I had to put was to translate my academic documents in Russian language. HSE university provides high-quality education. After receiving tuition from my lecturers and supervisors, I enhanced my knowledge into my relevant field of study. HSE University has allowed me to interact with diversity of talented students from various countries. HSE makes it very simple for the international students to understand the Russian version of academia. According to my perception, HSE provides quality education with experienced and professional educators in a very friendly environment. My educational experience is very good in HSE. I really enjoy studying in an environment where I can interact not only with the students of diverse backgrounds but also the lecturers coming from several big countries. I learnt Harvard style referencing in my writing in one of my courses at HSE and much more. I am receiving contemporary education from HSE and also considering some of the important historical topics.

My name is Ly Ha Trang from Vietnam. I enrolled in HSE University in the 2021/2022 Academic Year to study master program “Critical Media Studies”. I knew HSE University initially from my dad, because he works as Vietnamese-students’ manager in Russia. He introduced this university to me. I also learnt about the University by the the University’s Facebook Page and recommendations from Vietnamese students who study in this university. HSE is high-ranking university for sure, with a lot of good programs and open opportunities for foreign students. I think one of the best things about HSE is that it's also great in improving and reforming the curriculums. Students and professors in HSE also speak good English, which is something I find lucky to be here.   First and foremost, my program in HSE catches my attention, it's fresh, up-to-date with Western Academic Standard and has many interesting courses. Although the amount of academic work is huge and requires me to work harder, but high-quality materials and the possible knowledge I can gain really encouraged me. My educational challenge so far I can say is the density of courses in module 2 and 4 during my first year studying this program. In module 1 and 3 we had not so many courses, but module 2 and 4, especially module 4 was so difficult for me because we did so many courses and we also had to write our term paper. I was sitting on my computer most of the days, writing tons of essays and homework while also trying to prepare for term paper defense.

Why did you choose Russia? And when did you first hear about HSE University?

In 2015, I was working as a volunteer in Russia for 2 months and I liked the country very much.

The first time I heard about HSE University was when one of my best friends in the high school who was studying in Russia told me that HSE is one of the best universities in Russia. I followed his advice and applied there.

What did you think about Russia before coming here and were your expectations right?

I thought Russia is a huge and cold country. And actually, it is like that – I can tell now for sure after I came here. I have heard some people saying that Russians are not so friendly to foreigners, but I think that’s not true, or I am lucky enough that people around me are so kind, especially people from small towns.

How was the admission process to the university?

Everything was nice and on time when I was making the application. Maybe because I was studying the Preparatory programme at HSE so I knew the information well.

How would you describe your studies?

Honestly speaking, it was and it’s quite hard for me. During the Preparatory programme I was learning Russian and suddenly I need to study in English, while my Master’s programme “Governance of Science, Technology and Innovations” is entirely in English. Moreover, in the first year we had many group assignments, which gave me a lot of “hard time”. But after completing them you are proud of yourself and feel you did learn and achieve something new.

How can you describe HSE workers and students? Is the environment there friendly to foreigners or not? What is your experience of communicating with other HSE students?

Well, I think “excellent” would be the most suitable word for them, our professors are reliable experts who also have a good experience in teaching. Our classmates are not only students but usually they are managers in some well-known companies, like one of my classmates, she was working in Google. The students of my programme are creative and hilarious. Personally, I enjoy most of all the lectures and seminars, I still can remember well the courses “Measurement of STI” and “Research seminar”.

Talking about the environment, it’s nice for foreigners, our university is really international and so many foreign students are studying here and most of them have a good academic background, so it’s funny and inspiring to communicate with them.

Why did you choose to study at HSE University in particular?

Firstly, it’s a famous university in the world with a good academic atmosphere. This is a place where you can find talented and smart guys and study with them.

Secondly, like our professor says “If you study well, you can choose whether to continue your career in academic or go to the market.” Here you learn and make a choice from your own.

Thirdly, just personal favor, after all, no one will refuse an opportunity to increase self-value and broaden horizons.

My academic journey has been a rollercoaster so far, to say the least. I started off taking up a variety of courses to explore my interests. Initially, it was really hard to cope with the academic rigour and coursework because I did not have enough of the prerequisite knowledge that the department demanded.

After quite a difficult first semester, I managed to bridge the gaps enough to start appreciating the beauty of the subject, and I eventually narrowed my focus to some areas in algebra and topology. Some of the courses that caught my interest the most have been ‘Introduction to Algebraic Topology’, ‘Knot Theory’, ‘Combinatorics of Vassiliev Invariants’, ‘Cluster Algebras’, and ‘Functional Analysis and Non-Commutative Geometry’.

I have not interacted with a lot of teachers in the department, but a few who have especially inspired me and helped inculcate a keen interest in research are Dr. Sergey Lando, Dr. Vasily Gorbunov and Dr. Alexei Pirkovskii amongst others. Their ability to not just talk about the subject matter but also to demonstrate the motivation for it is amazing. Along with the results themselves, it reveals the beauty of the results within the larger context of the subject.

Since the beginning of lockdown, classes have mostly continued online with restricted access to the campus building. Some courses are being shifted to offline mode currently depending on how many students are in Moscow. The winter exams went quite well. The dormitory has study rooms equipped with white boards that helped me deliver talks for various seminars without any additional technical equipment required.

I am currently working on my Masters’ thesis and simultaneously also applying for PhD positions and Research groups for the 2021-2022 or 2022-2023 academic years.

1. What was your main reason for choosing to study at HSE?

(Please provide details about why you selected HSE over other universities.)

The main reason I chose HSE over other universities in Russia was due to the prestige of the university and the positive comments from friends I met in Moscow, as well as from important authorities at my embassy.

2. How did your education at HSE help you in your career development?

(Describe the specific skills or knowledge gained that were beneficial.)

The education at HSE University were beneficial because they gave me a deeper understanding of global markets and the exposure to international perspectives in business management. Also, practical case studies and working with big companies on research helped me improve my critical thinking and adaptability. Finally, working with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds strengthen my communication skills.

3. What was the most memorable academic experience you had during your time at HSE?

(Share any classes, projects, or events that stood out to you.)

The most important academic experience I had was when my team and I had the opportunity to develop a consulting project for a major Russian company in the oil and gas extraction industry. We were able to apply the knowledge we had acquired and put it into practice. Considering my background, it was fascinating to apply my experience, collaborate with people from different countries, and gain new perspectives.

4. How did extracurricular activities at HSE contribute to your personal or professional growth?

(Explain any student organizations or activities you participated in and their impact.)

I am part of the Latin American Student Club at HSE, which helped me build a strong community and share experiences. It also allowed me to keep a sense of connection to my roots and share my culture with both Russian and international students. This experience enriched my personal growth by fostering a sense of belonging, while professionally, it helped me develop my communication skills and build a diverse network.

5. Did you participate in internships or work-study programs during your time at HSE? If yes, how did these experiences help you?

(Describe where you interned or worked and how it shaped your career.)

Yes, as part of the curriculum for the master’s in International Management, we were required to complete internships with a company. In my case, I had the opportunity to do a consulting internship at LOGA GROUP, a venture builder. I worked specifically with one of their projects, VOLTS, which focuses on providing carbon-neutral energy supply solutions for both low-power and industrial projects. This experience was important since it allowed me to apply my knowledge, gain insights into sustainable energy solutions, and enhance my consulting skills.

6. What challenges did you face during your studies at HSE, and how did you overcome them?

(Share any difficulties and what resources or strategies helped you manage them.)

The most significant challenge I faced was the language barrier. My master’s program was in English, however, many of my classmates were Russian speakers. Therefore, even though I didn’t fully master the language, I made the decision to learn it in order to better understand my classmates and colleagues. This also helped me in the workplace, as I had the opportunity to work with the staff in the HSE International Admissions Office for almost half a year. Learning the language not only improved my communication skills but also allowed me to integrate more effectively into both academic and professional settings.

7. How did HSE prepare you for the job market or further academic pursuits?

(Provide examples of how your degree or experience helped you transition into your current career or studies.)

In my country, having a master's degree from a prestigious global university is crucial for securing a good job. HSE University has helped me take my career in a different direction. My professional life had always been focused on the banking industry, but now, thanks to my experience at HSE, I have the opportunity to work in different sectors such as education and real estate. The university provided me with a broader skill set and exposure to various industries, allowing me to diversify my career options and adapt to new challenges. The international perspective I gained at HSE has been particularly valuable in preparing me for a global job market.

8. Would you recommend HSE to future students? Why or why not?

(Give reasons why you would recommend HSE to others.)

Yes, I would definitely recommend HSE to future students. Beyond the high academic standards, HSE offers invaluable professional experiences, cultural opportunities, new friends, and networking connections. The university has strong ties with many companies and organizations, providing unique internship and employment opportunities that help students apply their knowledge. The diverse international student body enriches interactions and fosters a global perspective, while the faculty consists of experts with international experience, ensuring a high-quality education. Additionally, HSE offers many extracurricular activities and student clubs that promote engagement and skill development. Located in Moscow, one of the best cities I’ve ever been, HSE provides an exciting urban environment that complements the academic experience.

9. What are your current career goals or plans?

Currently, I am working on a joint project with HSE to attract students from Latin America, where I can share my experiences of studying in Russia and at the university. At the same time, I am employed at a major company in the real estate and civil construction sector. On a personal level, I aspire to apply to the diplomatic academy with the goal of becoming an ambassador for my country. I want to represent my nation and share my identity and culture with the world.

During my studies in HSE Master's Programme "East European Studies" I developed the academic skills and professional qualities that I expected to cultivate when I was filling my application: general overview of contemporary research fields in humanitarian studies (cultural, memory, heritage studies), familiarization with scholarly literature in relation to my research interests, improvement of academic writing skills. Contrary to what many master students might fear, finding an academic supervisor and a suitable theme for my master thesis was not a difficult task at all. During our main course "Russian Studies" I had the chance to study under professor Ekaterina Boltunova, director of Institute of Russia's Regional History, with whom at the first steps of my master studies plainly discussed a plan leading to my master thesis.

Moreover, I was offered an internship in HSE Institute of Russia's Regional History, a valuable asset and extremely instructive experience for a foreign student with my interests.  In particular, being a member of the institute's staff gave me the opportunity to broaden the spectrum of my interests, as we cooperate with specialists and researchers all over Russia's vast territory. Through my interaction with a variety of highly skilled scholars, apart from enriching my knowledge about particularities of Russian local/regional history, I got acquainted with a broad set of different scientific approaches and theoretical frameworks that are applied in modern regional/local studies.

HSE aims at a high level of expertise for future graduates and consequently demands a high level of discipline and hard work. It would be though unfair not to mention that the university is always provides help, guidance and support and takes into account the special needs of abroad students. HSE is in a position to provide academic expertise, training for practical application of acquired skills and a variety of projects, internships, grants and scholarships. All the aforementioned factors have contributed to my decision to prolong my studies on a PhD level in a pursuit of an academic career.

First of all, could you share with us, what was your motivation to pursue a master’s degree in Russia? And how do you find your experience of studying and living in Moscow so far?

In my bachelor’s, I studied Languages, Civilization and Language Sciences in at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice Italy. During this time, I studied Russian language, I came to Russia for the first time to do an internship in Voronezh, and immediately fell in love with the country, the culture, and its people. I returned to Russia several times after that including studying abroad at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow for the final year of my bachelor’s degree.

Upon finishing my bachelor’s degree, I was looking for a way to stay in Russia in order to improve my Russian and study business. I decided on the MIB program and I haven’t regretted it for a second. Living and studying in Moscow has been an amazing experience. It’s such a vibrant, alive, and international city which goes completely against any and all negative preconceived notions and stereotypes.

Can you share with us some of the most exciting or challenging moments?

Definitely one of the highlights of the first year was the International Consulting course taught by the head of the program Irina Kratko. After a short theoretical course, each of the students were put in small groups and accepted to different major international corporations to work on a real consulting project. I was accepted by Mondelez International and my team worked on a confidential Oreo product launch project. The project wasn’t just some assignment, it was a real-life project where we would meet at the Mondelez offices with directors weekly and prepare materials that the executives would actually use.

Courses and lecturers you find the most exciting, and why?

It’s hard to choose as the program has many great professors who aren’t just academics, but real businessmen and women. Irena Kratko, the head of the program as well as the professor of several classes, is a real-life entrepreneur. Vladimir Lissniak, the amazing and eccentric professor of International Negotiations, also runs two of his own businesses. The Finance professor Alexey Blinov is a high-level Finance director at Mondelez. Vyacheslav Buyevskiy is a director at PwC. The courses taught by these professors and are some of my favorites because of their tremendous real-life knowledge of their subjects. They’ve not only studied their subjects, they have lived them and are able to impart their practical knowledge directly unto us.

In your opinion, what are the most important and useful skills you acquire while being an MIB student?

A lot of courses emphasize group work and presentations. The professors know that once we leave the university and enter the workforce, we will not only be working on teams, we must be comfortable presenting and defending our work. These skills have probably been the two most important things that I’ve acquired during my first year at MIB.

Paolo, could you please tell us about specific project(s) you are currently working on at your company?

I am currently a part of the Transformation Programs Unit at Leonardo in Rome, Italy, which main objective is to provide support to all company divisions. In particular, we help divisions in solving business-related issues and/or in implementing solutions to improve their organizational effectiveness.

How does your daily job correspond to the knowledge and skills obtained at HSE MIB?

I believe that both the hard and soft skills gathered at the HSE MIB are crucial to increase my problem solving capabilities.

Can you share with us some of the most exciting or challenging moments at MIB?

One of the most exciting moments was the graduation ceremony. That day made me feel extremely gratified for all the efforts and commitment that I put in the MIB since then. It made me happy once again for having taken the decision of applying to such a program.

You had an internship in Moscow last year. Could you please share your impressions with us?

My internship in Moscow was extremely interesting since it allowed me to get in touch with many professionals in Russia, to better comprehend how business works in Russia and in particular the Russian business culture. It also allowed me to create a strong network with a lot of professionals, which was one of my priorities.

I am really glad that the HSE MIB organization allowed me to both participate in lectures and have the internship without many problems, this for sure is an added value of the program.

In your opinion, what are the most important and useful skills you acquired while being an MIB student?

I believe that the MIB really enhanced my problem solving capabilities as well as provided me some practical skills that showed to be crucial to face the working environment in which I am currently in.

Davide, please tell us about specific project(s) you are currently working on at your company.

I am currently responsible for the product line in the area of Medical Devices, Trauma. That means I do support and organization for all sales & marketing activities in Switzerland, and negotiations with doctors, clinics, administrations and purchasing departments.

How does your daily job correspond to the knowledge and skills obtained at HSE MIB?

The practical approach of MIB and its highly professional teachers from various fields have surely helped me a lot. Including especially the Consulting classes from Irina Kratko, the head of the program, and, in general, the approach to learn through real company cases, and how to succesfully solve them in a team of international students.

What attracted you to Master of International Business program in Moscow after your life abroad?

The excellent reputation of both the program and university abroad affected my decision to select HSE. Moreover, MIB was the most practice-based program among all other master’s programs. 

Can you share with us some of the most exciting or challenging moments at MIB?

Definitely the Consulting Project I had with Simple Wine. It was a highly interesting Project in the area of market entry. The project wasn’t just some assignment; it was a real-life project that the executives at Simple Wine would actually use. The project enabled me to test my capabilities in the fast-paced business environment.

In your opinion, what are the most important and useful skills you acquire while being an MIB student?

I have improved my communication, leadership and time management skills.

Furthermore, I have learnt how to work well on an international team, how to plan, organize and prioritize the work. The program has taught me how to become a fast decision maker who is capable of solving problems quickly and effectively in today’s busy world.